Algebraic Inverse

Proportion
Lauren Richards
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@DrFrostMaths

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Teacher Notes
Prerequisite
Knowledge Future Links
• Solving direct and inverse proportion • Determine a formula to connect
problems using integer & non-integer scale two proportional relationships
factors, including completing tables of with a common variable.
values.
• Substituting into formulae.
• Rearranging formulae.
• Algebraic direct proportion

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Skills in this Lesson
386 Algebraic direct and inverse proportion
386c Determine the formula connecting two variables which are inversely
proportional.
386d Determine the formula connecting two variables which are inversely
proportional involving powers/roots.
386f Determine and then use the formula connecting two variables which are
inversely proportional, possibly involving powers/roots.
386h Complete a table of values for an inversely proportional relationship.
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 Show

Prerequisite Knowledge Check all

solutio
ns

1 taps fill a tank in hours. 4 is directly proportional to .

How long would it take to fill the When .
tank if taps are working? Determine when .

?
hours 1
2 ? 𝒒=𝟐𝟎
𝑞= 𝑝
2 bricklayers can build a wall
in days. 5 varies directly with the cube of .
How long would it When
take bricklayers to build Find a formula connecting and .
another identical wall?
𝟑
𝒂=𝟒? 𝒃
?
days

3 varies directly with . 6 is directly proportional to .

When . When
Find a formula connecting and . Determine when

𝟑 3
𝒚 =? 𝒛 𝑦= √3 𝑥? 𝒙=𝟓𝟏𝟐
𝟒 4
Recap: Algebraic Direct Proportion
We can determine a formula connecting two variables which are
directly proportional.

is directly proportional to. The proportionality

When . symbol, , signifies that
Find a formula connecting and . one variable is
proportional to the other.
𝑓 ∝𝑔⇒ 𝑓 =𝑘𝑔 There is a constant of
proportionality, , which tells us what
1 6=𝑘× 2 the multiplicative relationship is
between and – this allows us to
÷2↓ ↓÷2 write it as a formula.
𝑘= 8 We know that when , . We
can use this information to
determine the constant of
∴ 𝒇 =𝟖 𝒈 proportionality, .

Substituting the value of back into

our formula gives a formula
connecting & .
Recap: Algebraic Direct Proportion
is directly proportional to.
When .
Find a formula connecting and .

𝑓 ∝𝑔⇒ 𝑓 =𝑘𝑔
1 6=𝑘× 2
÷2↓ ↓÷2
𝑘= 8
We can use this determine
∴ 𝒇 =𝟖 𝒈 for any value of or vice
versa.
Determine the value of when For this question we
need to substitute in
When : this value of into the
formula to determine .
𝑓 =8 × 7
𝒇 =𝟓𝟔
 Show

Test Your Understanding all

solutio
ns

is directly proportional to . is varies directly with the cube

is when is . of .
Work out when is . is when is .
Work out when is .
3
𝑎 ∝ 𝑏⇒ 𝑎=𝑘
? b 𝑙 ∝ 𝑚 ⇒ 𝑙=𝑘𝑚
?
3

15=𝑘×
? 6 ?
54=𝑘 ×3
3

÷6↓? ↓÷6 54=𝑘

? ×27
15 𝑘=
? 2
𝑘= ?
6 ∴ 𝑙=2
? 𝑚
3

5
∴ 𝑎=
? 𝑏 When : ?
2
? ×5 3
𝑙=2
When :?
𝑙=2
? ×125
5
𝑎=? × 10 𝒍=𝟐𝟓𝟎
?
2
𝒂=
? 𝟐𝟓
Here we need to rearrange as we
are given , and asked to find .
Recap: Inverse Proportion
These variables are in inverse proportion.
We call this inverse
×3 proportion because the
×2 operation being applied to
one variable, is the inverse
Student 1 2 3 4 of the other.
s
Time 12 6 4 3 As one quantity
(mins) increases, the other
÷2 decreases in the same
÷3 proportion.

Pairs of values in inverse proportion will also always have a fixed

product.
In this scenario:
students × time=𝟏𝟐
This is the
constant of
proportionality.
Algebraic Inverse Proportion
Pairs of values in inverse proportion will also always have a fixed
product.
students × time=𝟏𝟐 This is the
𝑠 ×𝑡 =12 constant of
proportionality.
÷ 𝑡 ↓ ↓ ÷𝑡
Two variables are inversely 12
𝑠=
proportional if there is a 𝑡
constant multiplicative
relationship between one
variable and the reciprocal
of the other.
As with variables in direct proportion, we can represent this using the
proportionality symbol.
𝟏
𝒔∝ We can read this as ‘ is
𝒕 inversely proportional to
’.
Inverse Proportion Formulae

Which of the following formulae show that is inversely

proportional to ?
1
b 𝑎= 𝑏
𝑏 c 𝑎=
2
𝑎=7 𝑏
𝑎= √
a
2
d
𝑏
1 𝑏
h =
3 𝑎 5
8 f 𝑎= 3
e 𝑎= 2 √𝑏
𝑏 g
4
𝑎= 𝑏

4𝑏
3 k 𝑎=
i 𝑎= 7
5𝑏 7
j 𝑎= 𝑏
𝑏
Inverse Proportion Formulae

Which of the following formulae show that is inversely

proportional to ?
1 8 Here is 𝑏
b 𝑎= e 𝑎= 2 𝑎=
𝑏 𝑏 inversely c
2
proportional
3 to the square
𝑎= √
2 f 𝑎= 3 of , and the 4𝑏
d
√𝑏 k 𝑎=
𝑏 cube root of . 7
7 These are all examples 𝑎=7 𝑏
j 𝑎= where is inversely
a
𝑏
proportional to .
3 These are examples where
i 𝑎= is directly proportional to . g 𝑎= 𝑏
4
5𝑏

1 𝑏 Even here as there is still a is directly

h = constant multiplicative proportional to
𝑎 5
relationship between one
variable and the reciprocal of
the other.
Inverse Proportion Formulae
For inverse proportion, there is a constant of proportionality, , which
tells us what the multiplicative relationship is between and the
reciprocal of .
In general,

Here, 1
𝑎=
𝑏
Here,

𝑎= √
Can you determine
2
the constant of 𝑏
proportionality, , for
the remaining 7
𝑎= 𝑘=7
formulae? 𝑏
3 3
𝑎= 𝑘=
5𝑏 5
1 𝑏 5
= 𝑎= →𝑘 =5
𝑎 5 𝑏
Inverse Proportion Formulae
As mentioned, we can represent inversely proportional variables
using the proportionality symbol.
𝟏
𝒔∝ We can read this as ‘ is
𝒕 inversely proportional to
’.
is inversely proportional to is inversely proportional to

1 1
𝑐∝ 𝑥∝
𝑑 𝑦2
Can you re-write the following statements using the proportionality
symbol?
is inversely proportional to is inversely proportional to

1 1
𝑓∝ 𝑝∝
𝑔 √𝑞
The Big Idea: Determining the Constant of
Proportionality
is inversely proportional to We know there is a constant
of proportionality between
When . and the reciprocal of as
Find a formula connecting they are inversely
and . proportional.
1 𝑘 We can write this as a formula,
𝑓∝ ⇒𝑓=
𝑔 𝑔 connecting and , involving .
𝑘
12= We know that when , . We can use
3 this information to determine the
×3 ↓ ↓ ×3 constant of proportionality, .

𝑘= 36
Substituting the value of
𝟑𝟔 back into our formula
∴𝒇=
𝒈 gives a formula connecting
&.
Spot the Mistake
Abdi, Maria, Logan and Hannah have varies inversely with .
all completed a different question, When .
but only one of them is correct. Find a formula
connecting and .

Hannah Mar
ia
𝟐
𝒒= 𝒙 By first completing
𝒒=𝟏𝟎 𝒙
𝟓 the question,
determine who is
correct, and what
mistakes the others
Logan have made. Abdi

𝟏𝟎
𝒌=𝟏𝟎 𝒒=
𝒙
Spot the Mistake

Hannah
varies inversely with .
When .
Mar
Find a formula ia
connecting and .
𝟐 1 𝑘 𝒒=𝟏𝟎 𝒙
𝒒= 𝒙 𝑞 ∝ ⇒ 𝑞=
𝟓 𝑥 𝑥
𝑘 Maria has worked out
2=
Hannah has 5 everything correctly
incorrectly assumed until the very last step
is directly proportional
× 5 ↓↓ × 5 and has mistakenly
to . 𝑘=10 written as being
directly proportional to
.
Logan 𝟏𝟎
∴ 𝒒=
𝒙 Abdi

𝟏𝟎
𝒌=𝟏𝟎 Logan has quoted the
constant of 𝒒=
proportionality as his 𝒙
final answer.
Example Test Your
Understanding
varies directly with . is inversely proportional to .
When , When ,
Find a formula Find a formula
connecting and . connecting and .
1 𝑘 1 𝑘
𝑧∝ ⇒ 𝑧= 𝑦∝ ⇒ 𝑦=
?
𝑥 𝑥 𝑞 𝑞
𝑘 𝑘
3= 2= ?
0.2 6
× 0.2↓ ↓ ×0.2 × 6 ↓↓
? ×6
3 𝑘=12
?
𝑘=
5
𝟏𝟐
𝟑 ∴ 𝒚=
?
∴ 𝒛= 𝒒
𝟓𝒙

drfrost.org/ 386c
s/
Quickfire Questions drfrost.org/
s/
386c

a varies inversely with . b is inversely proportional to .

When When
Find a formula connecting and . Find a formula connecting and .

𝟓 𝟐𝟎
𝒙 =? 𝒒=?
𝒚 𝒚

c is inversely proportional to . d varies inversely with .

When When
Find a formula Find a formula connecting and .
connecting and .

𝟑 𝟒
𝒒= ? 𝒚 =? 𝒑
𝟐𝒛 𝟑
Exam Question
[OCR GCSE June 2012 3H Q14]
The frequency, hertz, of the note produced This question is still
by a vibrating string is inversely proportional an algebraic inverse
to its length, centimetres. proportion question,
When the length of the string is cm, the but within a
frequency of the note is hertz. context.

a Find an equation b Find the frequency of the

connecting
1 and .
𝑘 note produced when the
𝐹∝ ⇒ 𝐹= string is cm long.
𝑑 𝑑
𝑘 When :
3 00=
60 18 000
×60 ↓ ↓ ×60 𝐹=
40
𝑘=18 000 Hertz

𝟏 𝟖 𝟎𝟎𝟎 We can use the

∴𝑭=
𝒅 formula in part a to
determine for this
value of .
Example Test Your
Understanding
varies inversely with . is inversely proportional to .
When . When ,
Find the value of when . Find the value of when .

1 𝑘 We need to first 1 𝑘
𝑝 ∝ ⇒ 𝑝= 𝑎∝ ⇒ 𝑎=
?
𝑧 𝑧
find the 𝑏 𝑏
formula
𝑘 connecting & . 𝑘
3= 2= ?
3 1.5
×3 ↓ ↓ ×3 ×1.5 ↓ ? ↓ ×1.5
𝑘= 9 𝑘= ? 3
9 3
∴ 𝑝= ∴ 𝑎=
?
𝑧 𝑏
3
When : When ?𝑎= 9
9
𝑝= 𝟏
18 ?𝒂=
𝟑
𝒑 =𝟎 . 𝟓
Using the Formula
is inversely proportional to .
When . How is this question different to
the previous example?
Determine when .

When :
12 We need to
5= rearrange to
𝑦 determine for
this value of .
× 𝑦 ↓↓ × 𝑦
5 𝑦 =12
÷ 5 ↓↓ ÷5 This could have
12 been done in one
𝑦= step by
5 multiplying both
𝒚 =𝟐 .𝟒 sides by
 Show

Test Your Understanding drfrost.org/

s/
386f
all
solutio
ns

is inversely proportional to . is inversely proportional to .

When . When .
Determine when . Determine when .

1 𝑘 1 𝑘
𝑎 ∝ ⇒ 𝑎=
? 𝑦 ∝ ⇒ 𝑦=
?
𝑏 𝑏 𝑥 𝑥
𝑘 𝑘
0.?3=
20
√ 2=
?
2 √3
×20 ?↓ ↓ ×20 ×2 √ 3?↓ ↓ ×2 √ 3
𝑘=? 6 𝑘=2
? √6
6 2 √6
∴ 𝑎=
? ∴ 𝑦= ?
𝑏 𝑥
6
When : 0.1
? = When :
𝑏 ? 2 √6
6 3 √ 3=
? 𝑏= 𝑥
0.1
2 √6 𝟐
? 𝒃=𝟔𝟎 𝑥=
? = √𝟐
3 √3 𝟑
Inverse Proportion With Powers and Roots
Similar to direct proportion, two variables can be inversely proportional
in a slightly different way.
In the cases below, is not directly proportional to , but instead…

8 3
𝑎= 2 𝑎= 3
𝑏 √𝑏
is inversely proportional is directly
to the square of . proportional to the
cube root of .

We could also write these using the proportionality

symbol:

1 1
𝑎∝ 2 𝑎∝
𝑏 √3 𝑏
Quickfire Questions
Write the following statements using the proportionality
symbol:
a varies inversely with . b is inversely proportional to the
cube of .
𝟏 𝟏
𝒂 ∝? 𝟐 𝒂 ∝? 𝟑
𝒃 𝒃

c is directly proportional to d varies inversely with .

the square root of .
𝟏
𝒂 ∝?√ 𝒃 𝒂 ∝?
𝒃

e is inversely proportion with f is varies directly with the

the cube root of . square of .

𝟏 𝟐
𝒂 ∝?𝟑 𝒂 ∝? 𝒃
√𝒃
Example Test Your
Understanding
is inversely proportional to the varies inversely with the
cube of . When square root of b. When ,
Find a formula Find a formula
connecting and . connecting and .
1 𝑘 1 𝑘
𝑥∝ ⇒ 𝑥= 𝑎 ∝ ⇒ 𝑎=
?
𝑦3 𝑦
3
√𝑏 √𝑏
𝑘 𝑘
Remember 2= 3 7=
?
4 √9
to cube
the value 𝑘 𝑘
2= 7=?
of in this 64 3
case.
×64 ↓ ↓ ×64 × 3 ↓? ↓ × 3
𝑘=128 𝑘=? 21
𝟏𝟐𝟖 𝟐𝟏
∴ 𝒙= 𝟑 ∴ 𝒂=?
𝒚 √𝒃

drfrost.org/ 386d
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Exam Question
[Edexcel IGCSE Jan2012-3H Q15]
Two small magnets attract each other with a
force, newtons.
is inversely proportional to the square of the
distance, cm, between them.
When
a Express in terms of . b Calculate the value of when .

1 𝑘 48
𝐹 ∝ 2⇒ 𝐹 = 2 When : 𝐹= 2
𝑑 𝑑 5
𝑘 N
1 2= 2
2
𝑘 c Calculate the value of when
1 2= 48
4 3=
When : 2
×4↓ ↓×4 𝑑
𝑘= 48 2 48
As we cannot have 𝑑 =
3
a negative
∴𝑭=
𝟒𝟖 distance, the √∎↓ ↓ √∎
𝒅
𝟐
answer must be 𝑑=√ 16 cm
the positive root.
 Show

Test Your Understanding drfrost.org/

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386f
all
solutio
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is inversely proportional to the cube root of .

when .

a Find the value of when .

1 𝑘
𝑦 ∝ 3 ⇒ 𝑦=? 35 35
√ 𝑥 √𝑥
3
When : 𝑦= ¿
𝑘 √ 27 3
3

7=
? 3 ?
√ 125 𝒚 =𝟏𝟏
𝟐
𝑘 𝟑
7?=
5 b Find the value of when .
×5 ?↓ ↓ ×5
𝑘=? 35 35
When : 5?=
𝟑𝟓 √
3
𝑥
∴ 𝒚? = 𝟑 35
√𝒙 √? 𝑥 =
3
5
√? 𝑥 =7
3

3 3
∎? ↓ ↓ ∎
? 𝒙=𝟑𝟒𝟑
 Show

Further Test Your Understanding

drfrost.org/
s/
386f
all
solutio
ns

[WJEC GCSE Autumn 2019 1H Q11] 1 𝑘

𝐼∝ ⇒ 𝐼?=
The illuminance of light, , from a 𝑑
2
𝑑
2

lamp depends on the distance, , 𝑘

from the lamp. 5=? 2
The unit used to measure the 2
illuminance of light is the lux. 𝑘
It is known that is inversely 5 ?=
4
proportional to the square of .
Carys has a desk lamp in her × 4?↓↓ × 4
room. 𝑘=? 20
For her lamp, Carys measures the 20
illuminance, , to be lux when the ∴ 𝐼?= 2
distance, , is m. 𝑑
What is the illuminance of light 20
from this lamp at a distance of m? When : ?𝐼 = 2
0.5
20
?𝐼 =
0.25
? lux
The Big Idea: Completing Tables of Values
We can use these skills to complete tables of values of variables which
are inversely proportional.

Given that is inversely proportional 𝟗 100 81

135 360 𝟏𝟎𝟖 432
to the square root of .
Complete the table.

1 𝑘
𝑦 ∝ ⇒ 𝑦= And we can now We can use either pair of
√𝑧 √𝑧 use this to values given to determine
𝑘 determine the the formula connecting
1 35=
√ 64 missing values in
the table.
and .
𝑘
135 =
8 When : When :
× 8 ↓↓ × 8 1080 360= 1080
𝑘=1080 𝑦=
√ 100 √𝑧
( )
2
𝟏𝟎𝟖𝟎 𝒚 =𝟏𝟎𝟖 1080
∴ 𝒚= 𝑧= ¿ 𝟗
√𝒛 Here we need to
360
rearrange to determine.
 Show

Test Your Understanding drfrost.org/ 386h

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all
solutio
ns

Given that is inversely proportional 12 6 10

125
to .
Complete the table.

1 𝑘 When : ?
𝑞 ∝ 3⇒ 𝑞=
? 3
𝑝 𝑝 216000
𝑞=?
𝑘 63
125 =
?
12
3 216000
𝑞=?
𝑘 216
125 =
?
1728 𝒒=𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎
?
×1728 ↓ ? ↓ ×1728 When : ?
𝑘=216000
? 216000
𝑞=?
𝟐𝟏𝟔𝟎𝟎𝟎 10 3
∴ 𝒒=
?
𝒑
𝟑 216000
𝑞=?
1000
𝒒=𝟐𝟏𝟔
?
 Show
(Available as a separate
Exercise worksheet)
all
solutio
ns

1 varies inversely with . 4 varies inversely with .

When . When
Find a formula Determine when
connecting and𝟒 .
4
𝒙 =? 𝑞= ? 𝒒=𝟎 .𝟖
𝒒 𝑧
2 is inversely proportional to .
When 5 [OCR GCSE June 2014 4H
Find a formula Q16a]
connecting and𝟏𝟐 . The current, amps, in a
𝒚 =? wire is inversely
𝒛 proportional to the
3 AQA GCSE Jan 2013 2H Q20] resistance, ohms.
R is inversely proportional to A. a When the resistance is 𝟏𝟐
when . ohms, the current is𝑰amps.
=?
𝑹
a Work out a formula
Find an equation
𝟏𝟖 . 𝟏𝟓
connecting and . 𝑹= ? 𝑨 b connecting and . when
Find the resistance
the current is amps.
b Work out the value of when .
ohms
?
𝑹=𝟒.𝟓𝟑𝟕𝟓
?
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6 is inversely proportional 9 varies inversely with the cube

to . root of .
When . When .
Determine when Determine when .
20
𝑧= ? 𝒚 =𝟐 .𝟓 2 𝟐
𝑦 𝑧= 3 ? 𝒛=
√𝑞 𝟑
7 varies inversely with .
When 10 [Edexcel GCSE Nov2016-1H
Find a formula Q24]
connecting and . The intensity of the
𝟐𝟓
𝒑 =? 𝟐 sound, watts/m2, received from
𝒚 a loudspeaker is inversely
8 varies inversely with the square proportional to the square of the
root of . distance, metres, from the
When loudspeaker.
Find a formula connecting and . When
Work out the value of when
120
𝟐𝟓 𝐼= 2 ?
watts/m 2
𝒙 =? 𝑑
√𝒑
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11 [OCR GCSE Nov 2021 6H Q14] 13 [Edexcel GCSE Jun2016-1H

is inversely proportional to the Q24]
square root of . Given that, complete this table

1 2 5 10
when . of values.

100 25 4 1
a Find a formula linking and .
𝟑𝟎 ? ?
𝒚 =?
√𝒙
b Find the value of when .

𝒙=𝟐? . 𝟐𝟓
14 Given that is inversely
proportional to .
12 Given that is inversely
Complete the table.
proportional to the cube
12 8 2
of .

8 6
?
172
Complete the table.

8 27 8
27 64
?
?